Page 43 of The Last Resort
“I don’t know what you mean about the aspect. As a qualified architect, I’m fully cognizant of the common vertical set of characteristics which tie the design together. I worked on these plans for months.”
Their gazes met, and he held hers. There was a quiet challenge in his dark eyes, which told her she was making a grave mistake in seeking to make him look incompetent.
So he’s not just a rich hotelier, he knows what he’s talking about.
She glanced once more at the model, searching for ways to exploit any other potential weaknesses. “Ah, then what about the solar panels? From what I can see you haven’t planned enough of them. Or do Royal Resorts expect their guests to bring their own flashlights and batteries?”
His expression hardened. Her cheap shot had hit home.
“I would expect we will need to add more panels at some juncture. I will admit that I left some off the model for aesthetic purposes.”
If the future of the Green Tree Resort wasn’t at stake, Rachel would have been inclined to let Matthew’s remark about aesthetics slide. She’d done the same herself at times, left things off a model to make it look more streamline. But her job was to defend the old building and sow the seeds of doubt in the minds of the planning committee.
“So you kept important parts of your new design off the model just to make it look pretty? That shows a lack of respect for the people of Aspen, Mister Royal.”
When his shoulders sagged, she knew he’d taken a direct hit.
My heart took one from you a few minutes ago. And I’m still in pain.
A member of the public abruptly stood up and marched to the front of the room. He was the picture of a rugged mountain man, but from the way he was dressed, Rachel could tell he had money.
“Where will we park the Millennium Falcon?” he asked gruffly, bending to snatch up a piece of the model. The crowd laughed. They were lapping this up.
Matthew shot to his feet. “Excuse me, that’s part of my model.”
The model thief, pulled out his wallet, counted out some notes, and slapped them down on the table. “Two hundred bucks ought to cover it. Or do you want a check?” He ambled back to his seat, casually juggling the piece of model in his hand as he went.
The committee chair smacked his hand loudly on the table. “That’s enough, everyone sit down.”
Rachel was in two minds as to whether she would have let the rest of the gathering tear the design model to pieces, but from the look of crushed dreams on Matthew’s face it was clear he’d already conceded defeat. She wasn’t prepared to kick a man when he was down. Vanquishing the villain wasn’tall it was cracked up to be, regret constantly tugged at her heart.
I hate pulling anyone down.But you deserved it.
“This is getting us nowhere. The committee expected that’s where we would probably ended up tonight, so we put our own plan together, just in case. Security would you please clear the room,” announced the committee chair.
“But I hadn’t finished, you haven’t yet seen my proposal,” pleaded Rachel.
“That’s enough for now, thank you, Ms. Little.”
Perplexed, she headed back to rejoin the Brocks. Her brother-in-law grinned at her and whispered, “I bet Mister Billionaire wasn’t expecting any of that, you really shook him up. Well done, Rach.”
Kellie held out her hand and when Rachel took it her sister gave her a gentle ‘thank you’ squeeze. Rachel gave a nod to Dan’s parents.
The committee didn’t let me present my plans. What gives?
It took a few minutes for the crowd to file out the door, after which, Rachel risked a peek in Matthew’s direction. Other people had helped themselves to more pieces of the model, and a small pile of cash, now sat in front of him. Nursing the green Hermès scarf in his hands he looked crestfallen and shattered.
I wonder what he is thinking. I bet he hates me right now.
She’d done what had to be done, to save the old resort. Why did such an amazing guy have to turn out to be a money hungry developer?
Next time I meet a guy who I think is great, I’m going to do a full background check before he gets close enough to kiss me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The members of the planning committee gathered together but Matthew wasn’t really paying attention. His dreams of building an amazing, twenty-first-century ultra-deluxe hotel and resort in the Colorado wilderness lay in tatters. As did his expensive model.
Rachel didn’t work in a gift shop. She was an architect who’d been engaged by the owners of the Green Tree Resort to defend it against anyone who sought to do something with the site other than let the existing building fall into ruin.
